Not sure what Meri's deal is. It might be ego, or maybe he's just not that smart, can't take instruction, won't listen or doesn't "hear" the coaches. In any case, if he continues to play undisciplined, he is a liability back there. I'd rather (goingn to be looking at SBrown closely here), have SBrown take his spot if he can at least play with discipline and take care of his assignments. I'm not expecting Ed Reed or anything..just a disciplined, technique sound Safety.

Meriweather is much maligned in this town and may always be for some reason. It could be that the coaches are feeding him a big helping of humble pie so that he doesn't get too chuffed with himself about being a probowler. Something tells me that Meriweather is a bit of an extroverted self promoter who tries to do too much for his own glory and the Pats coaches are reeling him back in a bit. Giving Sergio Brown some reps may be their way of telling him to get with the program.

Bottom line, the Pats can win with Meriweather at safety, although I am curious to see if he's back once his contract is up. He's talented for sure, let's see if he can put it all together before his walk year.

Meriweather is much maligned in this town and may always be for some reason. It could be that the coaches are feeding him a big helping of humble pie so that he doesn't get too chuffed with himself about being a probowler. Something tells me that Meriweather is a bit of an extroverted self promoter who tries to do too much for his own glory and the Pats coaches are reeling him back in a bit. Giving Sergio Brown some reps may be their way of telling him to get with the program. Bottom line, the Pats can win with Meriweather at safety, although I am curious to see if he's back once his contract is up. He's talented for sure, let's see if he can put it all together before his walk year. Posted by CablesWyndBairn

1) The " some reason " why Meriweather is much maligned is because he chooses to play like a loose turd.

2) "CHUFFED" ? ... Is this an actual word? I'll save evrybody the Google-run . It's British slang for being very pleased with yourself .

I'm sure the Pats can win with Chuffyweather at Safety - but I'm even more sure we can win w/o him.

Meriweather is much maligned in this town and may always be for some reason. It could be that the coaches are feeding him a big helping of humble pie so that he doesn't get too chuffed with himself about being a probowler. Something tells me that Meriweather is a bit of an extroverted self promoter who tries to do too much for his own glory and the Pats coaches are reeling him back in a bit. Giving Sergio Brown some reps may be their way of telling him to get with the program. Bottom line, the Pats can win with Meriweather at safety, although I am curious to see if he's back once his contract is up. He's talented for sure, let's see if he can put it all together before his walk year. Posted by CablesWyndBairn

Whenever we have these discussions i never hear any actual evidence from the "pro" Meri. crowd as to why he doesn't deserve everything said about him. It's not opinion that the guy cant tackle or wrap up. It's not like were making up the fact that he free lances , make bad decisions and take bad angles. Now im in no way saying the guy is a bust , but the fact that he made the "pro bowl" doesnt mean anything me. That means about as much as making the NBA all star team. If we can upgrade , we should.

You guys can continue to hope and dream and read too much into nothing. Posted by Macrawn

So the fact that the Pats made an offer to SF's since resigned safety Dashon Goldson last week , then invited multiple safetys in for a look , and now are giving 1st team reps to Sergio Brown means nothing ? It's not a question of IF Meriweather will be replaced...it's WHEN .

( At the very least it shows the Pats have zero intention of ever re-signing him )

In Response to Re: FINALLY BRANDON MERIWEATHER IS MOVED TO 2ND LINE IN PRACTICE : 1) The " some reason " why Meriweather is much maligned is because he chooses to play like a loose turd. 2) "CHUFFED" ? ... Is this an actual word? I'll save evrybody the Google-run . It's British slang for being very pleased with yourself . I'm sure the Pats can win with Chuffyweather at Safety - but I'm even more sure we can win w/o him.Posted by CaptFoxboro

1. The "some reason" is overblown in my opinion and in the opinion of others. He needs to be more consistent for sure, but he's not terrible.

2. Chuffed is a word where I grew up, you'll just have to get your dictionary out once in a while since most here can get past the colloquilisms just fine and get my overall point. Every time I hit spell check it tells me it doesn't recognize words or that I'm spelling them wrong, but it's not my fault that this board doesn't recognize Standard Scottish English.

Apologists are like groupies, always wearing their knee pads. Remember Maroney, the worst RB ever in the history of the NFL, he even had them on this board.Posted by tcal2-

Perfect perfect example, you can add Ty Warren in there too. Meriweather, Warren, Maroney are going to be ok...just wait!! And then they get cut, traded, not resigned...then the apologists are dead silent. Same thing goes for players on other teams - this one stinks - that one could never play here, then they get traded for or picked up in free agency and they're cantonized. Laughable.

Merriweather has great physical skills but makes too many mental mistakes for my liking. He's just not someone you can rely on to be a smart, disciplined, steady leader in the secondary. That's why I like BB bringing in someone like Sharper. Maybe you keep Merriweather around to use in certain situations, but I'm afraid he can't provide the veteran leadership we need from our top safety.

In Response to Re: FINALLY BRANDON MERIWEATHER IS MOVED TO 2ND LINE IN PRACTICE : So the fact that the Pats made an offer to SF's since resigned safety Dashon Goldson last week , then invited multiple safetys in for a look , and now are giving 1st team reps to Sergio Brown means nothing ? It's not a question of IF Meriweather will be replaced...it's WHEN . ( At the very least it shows the Pats have zero intention of ever re-signing him )Posted by CaptFoxboro

I'm sure BB; at the very minimum, want to give others some reps. Not a bad idea if u wanna build depth

Apologists are like groupies, always wearing their knee pads. Remember Maroney, the worst RB ever in the history of the NFL, he even had them on this board.Posted by tcal2-

Maroney had a pretty decent rookie season and that cannot be disputed. I held out hope for him because of that. I was wrong about him. Meriweather is not as bad as some say he is nor is he as good as some say he is.

Merriweather has great physical skills but makes too many mental mistakes for my liking. He's just not someone you can rely on to be a smart, disciplined, steady leader in the secondary. That's why I like BB bringing in someone like Sharper. Maybe you keep Merriweather around to use in certain situations, but I'm afraid he can't provide the veteran leadership we need from our top safety. Posted by prolate0spheroid

most likely scenario is A. above, sign vet, meri stays into season helps or is traded if someone will give us something. but b,c,d are possible B. vet signed, meri released (hurting the team- attitude, not buying in or listening-not coachable C. we go with sergio, meri backs up. d. we get stuck playing him with no better option

somone referred to talent.what do you see as talent i'm curious here.i see a fast guy who can hit hard.i dont see a reliable safety or a coachable player.

In Response to Re: FINALLY BRANDON MERIWEATHER IS MOVED TO 2ND LINE IN PRACTICE : Maroney had a pretty decent rookie season and that cannot be disputed. I held out hope for him because of that. I was wrong about him. Meriweather is not as bad as some say he is nor is he as good as some say he is.Posted by digger0862

I'm a huge Mary basher, but you're right, he's not as bad as I, and others may make him out to be. He is, however, as stubborn, cocky, ignorant and uncoachable as any I've seen in NE over the past ten years. He was benched early last year for not taking to coaching well and freelancing too much...he has now been dropped down the depth chart for the SAME THING. He doesn't get it, he never will, he, himself, is the worst offender of thinking he's better than he really is.

My final nail was the hit, and reaction to it, of Todd Heap. He plays recklessly, that was not a good football play, he has no respect for the game, his teammates or the opponents, and zero accountability.

I can't wait for when he's gone from NE, and he can have fun in ten years telling all his other gun toting homies how BB never used him right. He shot a robber in college, stomped multiple people in the UM/FSI brawl, and was carrying a gun at 4:00 am in the bad par tof St Louis this offseason. He's a complete moron, he puts himself in bad situations and sees nothing wrong with it.

Moving to the second team is the first step his career has ever taken in the correct direction.

Say what you want about him, but after that hit on heap, offenses started thinking twice about going over the middle.Posted by btownteamsrking

If you want to celebrate a cheap, dirty, outside the rules hit, go for it. It was despicable to me. Say what you want about teams avoiding the middle, but it didn't help the Pats go far in the playoffs.

I prefer teams not running to a side because the end is so good. Or not throwing to a side because the corner is so good. Or not going over the middle because the S is so physical...WITHIN THE RULES!

Go ahead and root for the Maryweather and James Harrison's of the world, I think the game would be far better off without such bottom of the barrel scum like those two degenerates.

I prefer players like Mayo. Wilfork has even toed the line fo being dirty, but he seems to have reeled it in the past year or two and does it the right way at the dirtiest position. Mary is a punk, he does not represent the team or the region well.

I'm a huge Mary basher, but you're right, he's not as bad as I, and others may make him out to be. He is, however, as stubborn, cocky, ignorant and uncoachable as any I've seen in NE over the past ten years. He was benched early last year for not taking to coaching well and freelancing too much...he has now been dropped down the depth chart for the SAME THING. He doesn't get it, he never will, he, himself, is the worst offender of thinking he's better than he really is. My final nail was the hit, and reaction to it, of Todd Heap. He plays recklessly, that was not a good football play, he has no respect for the game, his teammates or the opponents, and zero accountability. I can't wait for when he's gone from NE, and he can have fun in ten years telling all his other gun toting homies how BB never used him right. He shot a robber in college, stomped multiple people in the UM/FSI brawl, and was carrying a gun at 4:00 am in the bad par tof St Louis this offseason. He's a complete moron, he puts himself in bad situations and sees nothing wrong with it. Moving to the second team is the first step his career has ever taken in the correct direction.Posted by ma6dragon9

Bill and his coaching staff pick the players and I root for them all to play well. However, Meriweather is reckless and with his benching and Belichick taking a look at free agent safeties plus BB's recent comments (see below) it appears the writing is on the wall.

"Buddy stepped in there -- we've got a receiver leading the team in interceptions. It will be a point of embarrassment for the defensive backs, but it's alright; they deserve it."

In Response to Re: FINALLY BRANDON MERIWEATHER IS MOVED TO 2ND LINE IN PRACTICE : I'm a huge Mary basher, but you're right, he's not as bad as I, and others may make him out to be. He is, however, as stubborn, cocky, ignorant and uncoachable as any I've seen in NE over the past ten years. He was benched early last year for not taking to coaching well and freelancing too much...he has now been dropped down the depth chart for the SAME THING. He doesn't get it, he never will, he, himself, is the worst offender of thinking he's better than he really is. My final nail was the hit, and reaction to it, of Todd Heap. He plays recklessly, that was not a good football play, he has no respect for the game, his teammates or the opponents, and zero accountability. I can't wait for when he's gone from NE, and he can have fun in ten years telling all his other gun toting homies how BB never used him right. He shot a robber in college, stomped multiple people in the UM/FSI brawl, and was carrying a gun at 4:00 am in the bad par tof St Louis this offseason. He's a complete moron, he puts himself in bad situations and sees nothing wrong with it. Moving to the second team is the first step his career has ever taken in the correct direction.Posted by ma6dragon9

It doesn't matter what you think of him. The overwhelming odds is that your going to see him playing in games for the Pats this year so get used to it. He's not getting payed a ton and they are thin at safety. That's the reality. He's gone after this year.